Haji Ali

The Haji Ali DArgah

Deepak Amembal

‘Haji' is a title bestowed to all those who have been on the ‘Haj’ pilgrimage to Mecca. Dargah is an Islamic shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint.

The Haji Ali Dargah is the tomb of a wealthy Muslim merchant, who renounced all his worldly belongings before embarking on his pilgrimage to Mecca. Legend has it that he died on his way to Mecca and his body, in its casket, floated back to Mumbai. However, some believe that Haji Ali drowned at the place where the dargah stands today The tomb is over eight hundred years old and linked to the mainland by a path This path is not bound by railings, hence lashed by the sea during high-tide. Therefore, the dargah is only accessible only during low tide. This 500-yard-walk on the path, with the sea on both sides, is one of the highlights of a trip to the shrine. Inside the central shrine, throngs of worshippers stoop to press their heads against the richly brocaded red and green chaddor covering the tomb, which lies in an exquisite silver frame engraved with all the ninety-nine names of Allah. The faithful then tie little red ribbons on wooden lattices to honour the soul of Haji Ali.